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SUBARU SUPERSTAR STILL HAS ALL THE MOVES

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‘Move over, coming through’, might well be the thoughts running through the mind of a driver catching a WRX STI looming ever larger in the rear-view mirror. Yes, since the first generation set the standard in the late 1990s, the Subaru super sports sedan still has all the moves. Now, the WRX and WRX STI, the latter suffix alluding to Subaru Tecnica International, the company’s performance arm, have undergone a non-too major refit for model year 2018 with both mechanical and cosmetic upgrades. The all-wheel drive turbocharged twins share external… Read more

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2018 HONDA ODYSSEY UPDATES

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Honda Odyssey people mover has had an external facelift, an upgraded interior and improved driver assist technology for the 2018 season. The Odyssey VTi now has an ‘aero’ front fascia design previously used on the top-of-the-range VTi-L. Bright chrome surrounds for the new front foglights add to the image. Topline Odyssey VTi-L has received a ‘premium aero package’ bolder bumper shaping, LED foglights and a dark chrome finish on the grilles and door handles. It also has a revised rear fascia and a stylish tailgate applique. Inside the VTi-L, the… Read more

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MAZDA3 2009 – 2016

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2011 Mazda3 SP25

Mazda3 first went on sale in Australia in April 2004, replacing the Mazda 323. A second generation was launched here in April 2009. We will begin our used car feature with that model as it’s significantly larger and more sophisticated than its honourable ancestors. Sales were strong from the start and the gen-two was frequently at or close to the top in the overall sales race as buyers moved away from larger cars. This means that there are plenty on offer in the used car scene. Take your time, do… Read more

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BMW FOUR-CYLINDER BUILDING TRANSFORMED TO ‘BATTERY PACK’

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If you have ever been to Munich it’s likely you will have noticed the famed ‘Four-Cylinder Building’. This striking structure is the head office of the BMW Group. To celebrate the delivery of more than 100,000 electrified vehicles (pure-electric and hybrid) worldwide in 2017, BMW has transformed the Four-Cylinder Building to make it look like a gigantic battery. An 80-year-old man took delivery of his BMW i3, making him the 100,000th customer. Harald Kruger, the chairman of BMW, handed him the keys to the in Protonic Blue i3, and said,… Read more

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RILEY BROOKLANDS

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1928 Riley Brooklands

The Riley Brooklands was first introduced in mid-1927 and was produced from 1927 to 1932. It was powered by a front mounted four-cylinder 1087 cc overhead-valve engine which had part spherical combustion chambers driving the rear wheels. This engine was originally introduced in the Riley Nine family car in 1926 and its early performance indicated that it would make a good power source for a sports car. After some modifications, including the fitting of two horizontal SU carburettors, power output was raised to 37 kW at 5000 rpm, very high… Read more

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2018 MASERATI LEVANTE S TURBO-PETROL

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When Maserati launched its Levante SUV in Australia in February it came only with a diesel engine. Why? Because at that time all petrol models were fitted with the steering wheel on the wrong side for Australia. A silly mistake that has now been rectified. Following pressure from Australia, the UK, South Africa and other countries where people drive on the left side of the road Maserati Levante is now available with a Ferrari-built twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with 321 kW (430 horsepower) and 580 Nm of torque for the 2018… Read more

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NEW AUDI STAR SINGS FROM A DIFFERENT SONG SHEET

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Vocally speaking, if the outgoing Audi RS 5 was a booming baritone, the latest version of the iconic sports coupe is a cocky, if at times shrill, tenor and, as has been suggested, maybe not to everyone’s liking. Blame the substitution of the sonorous sound of the ‘old’ V8 with a new-generation star-in-the-making twin-turbo V6 that works in a higher register. Traditionally, baritones can be packing a bit of beef, unlike tenors who, because they get the girl, are usually trim, taut and terrific. The same can be said about… Read more

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2018 FORD ECOSPORT UPGRADES

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The Ford EcoSport is the smallest vehicle in the company SUV range. Clever marketing means it has been restyled to tie in with the shape of its larger brothers, the Escape and Everest, as well as the big Endura which is coming in 2018. Pretty well everything forward of the windscreen looks different, with a sculpted bonnet featuring a central ‘power’ bulge a large trapezoidal grille and interesting angular headlights and foglight surrounds. EcoSport’s rear bumper and taillight designs have also received the sculpted look. Three colours have been added… Read more

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MAZDA CX-9 IS A CLASSY PEOPLE MOVER

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Launched in July 2016 the second generation Mazda CX-9 has been a big hit in the people mover market in Australia. Not content to rest on its laurels, Mazda Oz recently introduced improvements to driving, safety and comfort for its flagship Azami, our test machine for the last week. STYLING With its neat and tidy look the big Mazda people carrier has a look of restrained confidence. From every angle things are in proportion and there are no fancy bits to spoil the minimalist look. The interior features quality materials… Read more

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MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS 2013 – 2016

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By EWAN KENNEDY, Marque Motoring CAPTION: A. B. C. 2016 Mercedes-Benz A250 BODY COPY When Mercedes-Benz launched the A-Class in 1997 it was a stubby little car deliberately made to be shorter than any conventional four-door car. No big deal in Australia, but huge in Europe where a car with a length 100 mm less than anything else could make the difference between finding a parking spot in a big city or not. Which sounds weird to Aussies, but if you’ve ever looked at cars crammed bumper-to-bumper on Parisian streets… Read more